From 10 to 26 October 2010, a team of 17 youth volunteers represented the Singapore Soka Association (SSA) on a 17-day Youth Expedition Project (YEP) in aid of the Changzhi Primary School and Xi Jiao Primary School of the Changzhi Township in Shanxi Province, China.
Named “Project Shine 2010”, it is in its second year running. The project’s scope for this YEP focused on (1) inciting the interest and passion of the beneficiary students to learn English through various creative teaching methods and cultural exchanges; and (2) building bridges of friendship.
The YEP is a government initiative, spearheaded by the National Youth Council, established with the objective of developing the youths of Singapore through an overseas service-learning experience. Shouldering this mission with great pride, the youths of “Project Shine 2010” strove to ensure the continuity of their predecessor’s trailblazing efforts in the previous year as they further develop and advance friendship with the Changzhi Township in Shan Xi Province. These SSA youths were determined to practise in the same spirit as their mentor, SGI President Ikeda, who opened the path of friendship between the people of Japan and China in the 1970s.
The team adopted creative learning methods to facilitate the lessons in English, music and physical education, over a span of 14 days for 400 students from the two beneficiary primary schools. In collaboration with the schools, they also organised a mass sports event for the students. Through this event, the team sought to impart positive values to the students, such as teamwork and the courage to pursue their dreams. Furthermore, the team also donated 400 English books, as well as various sports equipment and stationeries, to the school.
